Wind Power

Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, Queen Square, Bath
Monday 27 September, 7.30pm, £2.50.

Global warming is evident and indisputable. The twentieth century saw a 0.6C rise in global temperatures and the 1990's were the hottest decade on record. Although there is still some debate about the cause of this warming trend most scientists are now in agreement, blaming an enhancement of the natural greenhouse effect due to the burning of fossil fuels. In response to this, and diminishing oil reserves, in their 2002 energy white paper the Government committed the UK to renewable forms of energy providing 10% of electricity by 2010 and 20% by 2020. Much of this renewable energy will be provided by wind farms.

There are currently 1123 wind turbines in the UK supplying 767.4 megawatts of electricity each year   with many more wind farms planned. Despite their contribution to renewable energy not everyone agrees that wind farms are the best way to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Opposition groups have argued that the social and environmental impacts of wind turbines drastically outweigh their benefits and have called for a halt in their construction. Country Guardian argues that all sites that are suitable for wind power are environmentally sensitive in one way or another   and point out that wind is an ineffective and unreliable source of energy.

The fifth in this years Green Light Lecture series will debate the issue of wind power using the proposed development at Hinkley Point as an example. We will be hearing from groups both opposed to and in favour of the Hinkley point turbines before the audience are invited to debate the issue both with the speakers and with each other.  

Green Light is a joint project between Greenpeace, Friends of the earth and Envolve and is sponsored by Marks & Spencer and ESD.